However, the moment of failure allowed him to bounce back and start a new business in Middletown, and the opportunity he said the United States provides.

“It means being able to invent and reinvent yourself no matter what you're dream is,” Palacios said. “As long as you're persistent you can achieve your dream. You can't wait for someone to give you something.”

-- Andrew Beam

BLOOMINGBURG — Events that have occurred between some residents of Bloomingburg and the Hasidic Jewish community have somewhat divided the village. Some people feel that those opposed to some of development occurring in the town, led by businessman Shalom Lamm, have treated members of the Hasidic Jewish community unfairly, and, in some ways, have acted un-American.

For Mt. Hope resident Jennifer O'Connell, 37, who owns AJ's Old Skool Barber Shop in Bloomingburg, it brought to mind what being an American really means.

“It means to accept each other for who we are, and to get along with other people even if you don't like who they are or what they do.”

-- Andrew Beam

NEW PALTZ — He grew up in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, a stickball-playing, movie-loving kid who remembers how proud and patriotic he felt at ceremonies marking the end of World War II.

Vincent Anastasio was 7-years-old then. He's never lost his love of America. But he says he's lost that feeling of pride he had as a kid.

“No, no, it's not the same anymore,” he said while standing on the front porch of his New Paltz home. “The country's lost its way, lost its meaning.”

Anastasio recalls how he gave a dollar to a young man who was collecting on behalf of his football team. It was Memorial Day, and he asked the kid if he knew what Memorial Day meant. The kid shrugged. Anastasio said he confronted the kid's teacher and told him he should be ashamed.

“And I said gimme back my dollar. Which he did.”

That confrontation epitomized for Anastasio how the country has forgotten its history.

“And if you forget that, you forget what the country's about. How can you be proud of that?”

-- Jeremiah Horrigan

MONTICELLO — Raymond Limbert, 34 of Woodridge, was hanging out on a bench in front of the Sullivan County Courthouse as he spoke of the privilege of being an American versus living in a country where basic human rights are more scarce.

“The freedom of speech, freedom of religion, not having to answer to anybody,” said Limbert, a former New York City resident. “To be American is a privilege. Third world countries aren't as fortunate as us. We have the freedom to do what we want. And no one in America can hold you back unless you let them.”

-- Andrew Beam

NEW PALTZ — Julie Mazur was born in Liverpool, England. She's a British citizen who's lived here for 30 years. She's been the proprietor of Rambling Rose Boutique on Main Street for 20 of those years.

But lately she realized she's lived longer in the States than she did in England. And she's begun to think seriously about becoming an American citizen.

“I love this country, I love the people -- when I go back, I'm get frustrated at how inefficient things are there.”

Americans, she said, are more cheerful. More positive. And it's a whole lot sunnier a whole lot more of the time.

Mazur's realization was driven home watching the World Cup.

“I found myself rooting for America,” the wonder of it still coloring her voice. “I mean, I grew up in Liverpool. Football is serious business there.”

England, she said, is her heritage. But America is her future.

-- Jeremiah Horrigan

MONTICELLO — “It feels so good,” said Moe Abdelarzeki, 60, of Monticello and owner of the recently opened Broadway Pizza, of being an American.

While he said his business has been doing fine, he would like to see more businesses populate Broadway in the Village.

“Broadway should be like other Broadways,” Abdelarzeki said. “Anywhere else in America, Broadways are booming, but not in Monticello.”

Being from Egypt, Abdelarzeki said it meant a lot to be an American as it has given him the freedom to start his own business after originally having to work for someone else.

“It feels great. I like the freedom. It means a lot because I used to work for a hotel and now I have my own business.”

-- Andrew Beam

MIDDLETOWN — Chanelle Jones, 22, of Middletown, knows it takes hard work in order to succeed. As a mother, though, and an employee at the Promenade at Middletown, she also knows there are services available to those who need it in the United States.

“What it takes to be American is being proud you are an American. You do have rights. It means working hard. If you're having trouble in the household, you can get help to try and get you back on your feet.”

Jones also spoke of the difference between the United States and some other countries in the world.

“Other people from some different countries have it pretty rough, “Jones said. “There can be a lot of restrictions that make it difficult to get by.”

-- Andrew Beam

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